Chapter 1350: Floating Clouds

"Haha, it seems Fellow Daoist Huyan has had quite the harvest over the years, spending his days with these immortal brews and jade nectar, truly worthy of the title 'Wine Immortal,'" Han Li said with a laugh.

"I've collected plenty of fine wine, but it's a pity there's no one to share it with. Today, you've come, so we can drink to our hearts' content," Daoist Huyan said with a hearty laugh.

"I'll gladly keep you company," Han Li naturally did not object.

The two sat facing each other across a table. Daoist Huyan brought out the fine wines he had collected over the years, and as they chatted about recent events, they drank heartily.

Soon, both were slightly tipsy.

Han Li spoke of the scenes he had witnessed at the Candle Dragon Sect some days ago.

Daoist Huyan had spent much longer at the Candle Dragon Sect than Han Li and had deeper feelings for it. Upon hearing this, he was stunned, then could not help but sigh.

"Once this great calamity has passed, if Fellow Daoist Huyan is willing, you can return to the North Cold Immortal Domain to revive the Candle Dragon Sect. Don't worry about resources; I can lend you a hand," Han Li said, seeing Daoist Huyan's expression.

His "True Speech Wheel Sutra" had been obtained from the Candle Dragon Sect, so there was at least some bond of gratitude.

With his current cultivation and wealth, reviving a small sect like the Candle Dragon Sect was merely a trivial matter. During his time at the sect earlier, he had been focused on cultivation and had not attended to this.

"Heh, you've got quite the bold tone, lad. It seems you've truly become capable. But all things have their cycles of flourishing and decay, governed by fate. The rise and fall of a sect is no different; one should not force it. Let's talk about it when fate brings us together again," Daoist Huyan said, giving Han Li a surprised look before smiling faintly and raising his cup to drink.

"Fellow Daoist Huyan, your nature remains the same, but your actions now are quite different from the past," Han Li said, raising an eyebrow thoughtfully.

"Having been through so much, especially this great drop in strength, this old Daoist has come to see many things clearly. Favors and grudges alike are but floating clouds. Overthinking is useless; better to face the wine and sing, for life is short," Daoist Huyan chuckled.

"Favors and grudges are but floating clouds... floating clouds..." Han Li murmured the phrase.

"The me of now is no longer the me of the past. I don't know what the future holds, nor do I wish to find out. I've long ceased to cling to the future me. As the saying goes, 'Today, with wine, let's be drunk today!'" Daoist Huyan said, shaking his head, as he poured himself another cup.

"Indeed, not just favors and grudges, but friendship, kinship, pain, and joy—all are merely the mind's attachments to the past, present, and future. There's no need to care about them, let alone dwell on them," Han Li said, a glimmer of understanding flashing in his eyes as he murmured to himself.

Daoist Huyan held his empty cup, looking at Han Li with a strange expression, somewhat puzzled.

"Similarly, at birth, the physical body is formed from the father's essence and mother's blood. From the moment one embarks on the path of cultivation, absorbing the primordial energy of heaven and earth, the bones and blood of the body have been replaced countless times. Even at my current realm, they change every moment," Han Li said, his eyes gradually brightening.

"Since there is no need to cling to either the physical body or consciousness, I am not I, you are not you, he is not he—all are illusions, all are floating clouds. Yet illusions are not non-existent. Just as the reason I am here drinking with you now has its causes and follows the Dao..." Han Li continued.

Daoist Huyan shook his head, ignoring Han Li, and downed three more large cups on his own.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Huyan," Han Li suddenly stood up and bowed to Daoist Huyan.

"Hey, Li boy, what are you doing?" Daoist Huyan, seeing this, quickly stood up as well.

"Your words just now resolved a knot in my cultivation," Han Li said without further explanation.

Daoist Huyan, hearing this, said nothing more and simply laughed heartily.

After that, the two did not discuss cultivation at all. They drank freely, reminisced about the past, and talked at length about the boundless immortal path.

Those fine wines were all immortal brews infused with spiritual power, many containing boundless immortal energy. Given Daoist Huyan's current cultivation level, he naturally became drunk quickly.

Han Li waved his hand to send Daoist Huyan to the bed, swept his divine sense through his body, frowned slightly, then pushed open the door and walked out.

The sky was already pitch black. A bright white moon, like a silver plate embedded in the sky, cast a vast expanse of silver light.

The valley was utterly still. The adjacent pavilion was already dark; Nangong Wan and Yun Ni seemed to have retired for the night.

Han Li had not seen such a quiet night in a long time. He began to stroll through the valley, enjoying the rare tranquility.

"Senior Li." A voice came from ahead, and then a figure in white emerged from a bamboo grove beside the path. It was Bai Suyuan.

She had changed into a white long dress, making her appear even more delicate.

"Miss Suyuan, why aren't you resting at this late hour?" Han Li asked.

"Senior Li, with your profound cultivation, you must have already discerned Senior Huyan's current physical condition, haven't you?" Bai Suyuan said after a moment of silence.

"Fellow Daoist Huyan's primordial life force is severely depleted. It doesn't seem to be caused by injury. I've seen this condition in cultivators who have performed the art of initiation, transferring their primordial life force to others," Han Li said calmly.

"Senior Li is correct. Senior Huyan's drop in cultivation was not due to injury as he claimed. It was all because of me," Bai Suyuan said softly.

Han Li showed no surprise, standing quietly, waiting for her to continue.

"Senior Huyan was indeed injured in a fight back then, but it didn't damage his foundation. He would have recovered after a period of rest. But unfortunately, at that time, I was bent on avenging my master's murder. Without thorough preparation, I rashly attempted to break through to the Golden Immortal bottleneck, causing my meridians to go haywire, nearly costing me my life. To save me, Senior Huyan ignored his own injuries and performed the initiation art, using his many years of hard-cultivated primordial life force to help suppress my injuries and later assist me in breaking through the realm. In the end, he exhausted his life force and his cultivation fell," Bai Suyuan said mournfully.

"So that's how it is," Han Li sighed.

Bai Suyuan rushed forward and knelt before Han Li.

"Senior Huyan's condition can only be treated by a Tai Yi realm expert. Senior Li, with your profound cultivation, you must have already advanced to the Tai Yi realm. I beg you to extend a helping hand. I am willing to be your servant or slave to repay your great kindness," Bai Suyuan said, her clear eyes brimming with tears, on the verge of weeping, evoking pity.

Han Li raised an eyebrow and flicked his sleeve.

Bai Suyuan's body was lifted by a force, and she stood up.

"Fellow Daoist Huyan and I are old acquaintances. Besides, he just helped me greatly. You don't need to say anything; I will heal him," Han Li said indifferently.

With that, he took out a white jade bottle and handed it to Bai Suyuan.

Bai Suyuan was both surprised and delighted. She timidly took the bottle, and a refreshing fragrance seeped through the bottle wall.

Her spirits lifted, and the immortal spiritual power within her stirred slightly, bringing her another surge of joy.

"Inside the bottle are ten Immortal Mushroom Life-Increasing Pills, which are best for replenishing primordial life force. Have Fellow Daoist Huyan take one every ten days. Within two months, his vitality will be restored. As for his cultivation, with diligent practice, he can quickly recover to his original state," Han Li said.

"Thank you, Senior Li!" Bai Suyuan was overjoyed and bowed again in thanks.

"You may go. I rather like the moonlight here and wish to enjoy it a while longer," Han Li said, waving his hand dismissively before continuing to walk forward.

Bai Suyuan hesitated for a moment, then bowed to Han Li's retreating figure and withdrew.

Han Li strolled through the valley and soon arrived at a small pavilion deep within a bamboo grove.

A woman in white stood there; it was Nangong Wan.

But she was now enveloped in a layer of invisible water ripples, making her figure appear faint and indistinct.

"Husband, that girl was willing to be your servant or slave to repay you. Why were you so cold to her?" Nangong Wan said with a half-smile.

"That bottle of Immortal Mushroom Life-Increasing Pills is enough to heal Daoist Huyan's injuries, and it also repays his favor. Let's go. The karma here is settled; this is no place for us to stay long," Han Li said, shaking his head with a smile and taking Nangong Wan's hand.

A flash of lightning, and the two figures vanished from the valley.

The next moment, they appeared in midair.

"Where are we going next?" Nangong Wan seemed to relax and asked.

"The Outer Realm," Han Li said, a gleam flashing in his eyes as he soared into the sky with Nangong Wan.

Soon, they arrived at the Outer Realm and found a safe place to set up a simple cave dwelling.

He then took Nangong Wan into the Flower Branch Space.

"Husband, are you going to continue your previous cultivation?" Nangong Wan looked at Han Li.

Han Li nodded gently.

"I cannot help with your cultivation, but I believe my husband will surely succeed," Nangong Wan said, making a slight curtsy.

"Your trust, Wan'er, is the greatest support for me," Han Li said, embracing Nangong Wan and gently kissing her forehead before turning and entering the pavilion where he had previously gone into seclusion.

All the restrictions on the pavilion floor were still intact and functioning normally.

Han Li sat cross-legged within the restrictions, calming his mind.

After a day and a night, his mind was completely at peace, and he once again entered the divine sense space.

The green-robed Han Li sat there as usual, looking up at him.

He looked Han Li up and down, his expression turning solemn.

"Heh, your mind has improved greatly. It seems you've come this time to truly begin severing the corpse," the green-robed Han Li said.

"Indeed," Han Li said without further ado, lunging forward like lightning. A vast expanse of golden light burst from his body, instantly forming a domain that descended.

Contrary to his expectations, the green-robed Han Li did not dodge, allowing Han Li's domain to envelop him.

Han Li's gaze flickered slightly, but his spellcasting did not pause. A crystalline light flashed from his brow.

The void around the green-robed Han Li stirred, and countless crystalline chains shot out, binding him tightly.

The green-robed Han Li, however, showed no concern for his predicament, even wearing a smile.

Everything around Han Li vanished—the divine sense space, the green-robed Han Li—all disappeared, leaving only endless, profound darkness.

"Illusion?" Han Li looked around and immediately activated the Spirit Refining Art. The light at his brow blazed even brighter.

Waves of immensely powerful divine sense fluctuations surged outward, transforming into giant divine sense swords that slashed at the surrounding space.

But the dark space rippled slightly, and the giant divine sense swords were swallowed up without stirring a single wave.

Han Li narrowed his eyes, inwardly alarmed.

Over the years of constant battle with the self-corpse, his Spirit Refining Art had advanced further, nearing the seventh level's great perfection. His divine sense was immensely powerful. Even if a Dao Ancestor skilled in illusion laws had set up an illusion space, he should have been able to shake it.

At that moment, the scenery around him changed. The dark void vanished, and he appeared above a pool of blood.

Thick, viscous blood filled the pool, emitting a nauseating stench.

"Roar!" Five green-faced, fanged ghostly creatures leaped out of the blood pool and charged at Han Li.

These ghostly creatures were hideous beyond measure, their bodies covered in bloody blisters that constantly spurted streams of foul blood. Their serpent-like eyes gleamed with a cold, blood-red light. They had seven or eight arms on each side, each arm bearing a different kind of sharp claw, every one of them ugly and ferocious, inspiring a sense of revulsion at first sight.

These five ghostly beings seemed to embody all the ferocity and ugliness in the world, their expressions even more vicious, as if they wanted to devour human flesh and drink blood.